-Cheryl-

The day that we've been waiting for is finally here. Today, I marry the man who came into my life like a whirlwind. Little did I know that night almost a year ago, when I walked into Max's Taphouse, I would meet the man of my dreams.

My mom enters the room where I'm getting ready to marry Reed. "You look beautiful, Cheryl."

I smile at my mom. "Thank you, Mom."

"You know it's not too late to back out." My mom says to me as I'm minutes away from getting married.

"Mom, you need to stop," I demand

Mom replies, "I'm saying that maybe you should wait. How well do you know this man?"

I turn towards her. "This man has a name, Mom."

"I know, dear," she snips.

Now, I'm getting irritated. "The problem here is not that I don't know Reed. It's that you don't know Reed. Can't you please trust that I know what I'm doing? I know my feelings for Reed are powerful. I love him with every part of me. He makes me feel cherished and adored. I would think that you would want that for me. We are not Dad and you!"

I know that the underlying cause for my mom's feelings is that she was hurt so badly by my father and didn't want me to go through the same pain that she had experienced.

Mom sighs, "I know, Sweetheart. I'm not saying I don't want you to marry Reed. I'm just saying not to marry him so soon after meeting him."

"How long did you date Dad before getting married?" I asked with an attitude.

Her eyes show that she knows where I'm going with this question.

"Three years," she whispers.

"Exactly. You knew Dad for three years before you got married and had no clue that a couple of years later, he would leave us both behind."

I soften my tone.

"Mom, Reed, and I love each other. He wants me to be his forever, and I want that too. I'm not saying we won't have challenges down the road, but our lives and love are ours to grow together. I refuse to make decisions based on someone else's life mistakes."

I see tears in my mother's eyes. I walk over to her and take her into my arms.

Mom cries, "I'm sorry, Cheryl. I hope that Reed and you have a wonderful life together. I love you and want you to be happy."

I hug her tight. "I love you, too, Mom. Reed makes me very happy."

**Knock, Knock**

"Come in," I call out.

Kandie walks in and sees my mom crying. "Hello, ladies. I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"

Kandie looks between my mom and me. "Not at all, Dear. Please come in," Mom sniffs.

Kandie comes in with her makeup bag. "I just wanted to touch up your makeup before you walk down the aisle."

Kandie makes a few adjustments to my hair. I have half of it up twisted from side to side into a loose French braid crown. She touches up my smokey eye eyeshadow and lightly brushes bronzer on my cheeks. She places a pale pink lipgloss on my lips. When she finished, she turned me around to look at my image in the mirror. The simple knee-length, off-of-the-shoulders, white lacy-fitted dress is perfect with my cascading curls down the back.

Kandie places baby's breath flowers throughout my crown of braids. "Finished. You look stunning, Cheryl. You're going to knock Reed on his ass!"

Kandie looked at her watch. She looks beautiful as well in her satin, spaghetti-strapped sage green dress. "It's time. Are you two ready?"

Mom takes my hand. "Let's get my baby girl married."

I smile at my mom. Kandie opens the door leading out into the garden. When the music starts, Kandie heads down the path. My mom and I follow her arm in arm. When I turn towards the floral arches, I see Reed waiting for me. Tears fill my eyes as I see the beaming smile on his face and the tears in his eyes. I glance at Todd standing next to Reed. His face is stoic, void of any emotions.

I turn my attention back to the man that is about to become my husband, the man that I want to spend the rest of my life loving. I'm so full of love for this man that my heart will explode any second. My mother and I finally reached our destination, my future, my man. After handing my bouquet to Kandie, Mom takes my hands and places them into Reed's.

Mom kisses my cheek and looks at Reed. "Take good care of my baby girl."

Reed smiles sweetly at my mom. "I promise that I will."

My mother returns Reed's smile and then sits next to Tank. There are only the six of us here in the garden to witness our marriage. Everyone else we invited will be joining us inside for the reception.

The Officiant begins the ceremony. "We are here today to witness the joining of Reed and Cheryl's life; may the love they share continue to grow and blossom into a deeper love as they enter this sacred union of marriage. Love is patient, love is kind, and loving someone means putting their interest ahead of your own. Love always protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres. It is not easily angered. Consider one another's points of view before reacting. Once harsh words leave your mouth, you cannot take them back. Cherish each other always, whether in laughter or tears and your love will conquer all that life brings. Reed and Cheryl wrote their vows. Reed..."

Both Reed and I listened intently to his words before speaking our vows.

Reed looks deep into my eyes. "Cheryl, you are the light to my darkness. Since our chance meeting at Max's, I've only had eyes for you. You're my everything. No words I can express to you in front of our family and friends can do any justice to how much I love you. I look forward to waking up beside you daily for the rest of our lives. You are the answer to my question, the key to my lock, and the sun to my moon. I vow to be the rock you can lean on when you are weak, the ear to listen to your every word, and to protect your heart at all costs. I love you, Cheryl, today until my last dying breath."

Tears are streaming down my face at the words Reed wrote to me. I take a deep breath to get my emotions in check before making my vow to Reed. "The fate that has brought us together will always be a day I cherish. You're everything to me. You're my heart, my next breath, and my forever. Looking at you, I can only see a bright future full of love and adoration. You always make me feel like the only woman in the room. You know what I want and need without me having to say a word. I love you with everything that I am. I vow to spend the rest of my life honoring you as my husband, supporting you in any way you need, and holding you up when the world tears you down. I love you, Reed, today until my last dying breath."

The Officiant requests the rings.

Kandie gives him our wedding bands. He takes one in each hand and holds them up. "These rings symbolize the never-ending love that Reed and Cheryl have articulated to each other this day."

He hands me Reed's ring and gives Reed mine.

The Officiant turns towards Reed, "Repeat after me, and Cheryl, please repeat after Reed. With this ring, I seal my vows to you."

Reed looks at me with love so deep in his eyes that it takes my breath away. "With this ring, I seal my vows to you."

He slips the ring on my finger and squeezes my hand.

The Officiant looks at me and nods.

I look back into Reed's eyes, and I hope that he can see my deep love for him in my own eyes. "With this ring, I seal my vows to you."

I place the ring on Reed's hand. We both smile and Reed mouths I love you to me. I mouth it back.

The Officiant announces, "By the power invested in me by the state of Maryland, I pronounce you husband and wife. Reed, you may kiss your beautiful bride."

Reed places his hands on both sides of my head and pulls me to him. Our lips meet, and we kiss lovingly. His lips linger, and I know he wants to take this kiss deeper. I encourage him by opening my lips and sliding my tongue across his bottom lip. I can feel him smile against my lips before he takes our kiss to the next level.

When he pulls back, he places his forehead on mine. "I love you so damn much, Mrs. Westerly."

My heart soars at hearing my married name. "I love you so damn much, too, Mr. Westerly."

We turn, and Reed takes my hand to lead me inside to our reception. I see my mom and Kandie with tears in their eyes. Kandie hands me my bouquet. Todd's face is still stoic. I don't know what the hell his problem is, and right now, I don't even give a damn.

*****